WHAT IS WORSHIP?
Worship is ministering to the Lord God with our spirit, with singing and adoration in His presence.
“God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (St. John 4:24)
“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord….” (Ephesians 5:19)
The most important thing in all of life is to know God personally, to know how to enter into His presence and to relate to him as a child. One activity the child of God will do forever is to praise and worship God. God’s purpose is for man to have intimate fellowship with him, not just service. In worship we make our boast in the Lord (Psalms 34:2), and know God dwells in the midst of our praise (Psalms 22:3).
As we magnify God, sing of His greatness and recount His works with thanksgiving, we actually enter into courts with sacrifice of praise. (Psalms 100:4) While God is omnipresent – everywhere – He dwells particularly in the hearts of worshippers, just as He had His dwelling in the Tabernacle in the Holy of Holies among His chosen people, the Children of Israel.
The Greek word used most often in the Bible is “proskunio” which means, To Kiss Forward. Worship to God in the spirit is really illustrated in the natural world by the response of a bride with her husband in an intimate relationship. We take God’s name, find our glory and identity in Him, and delight to be with Him and read correspondence from Him (the Bible).
We praise the Lord with songs, instruments, clapping our hands, rejoicing, sacrifices, shouting and joy; but we worship Him in spirit. To worship Him in truth is simply to worship Him according to the directions given in the Bible rather than our taste or personality. Note also that God does not seek to be worshipped. He seeks worshippers. He is looking for covenant people who will delight themselves in Him and rejoice in His presence. God’s goal is an intimate relationship, not obligations and religious ceremonies.
“….In His presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11) |
